Jbns 18, 1885.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



411 



the water, and the cabin upon ic, small as it was, covered 

 nearly the whole deck. On the end over the water stood a 

 bill man who had just got out of a small rowboal which he 

 was fastening to the scoW, He was very shabbily dressed, 

 and his long-neglected hair and beard hung ui shaggy masses 

 over his shoulder and breast, lie rose up as the splash, ot 

 our oars fell upon his ears, and to my astonishment I recog- 

 nized Charley K., who long years ago in the flush days of 

 the Washoe 'excitement bad, with his pockets full of gold, 

 been a fellow passenger with me on a pleasure trip to the 

 East in one of "the fine steamers ot the Pacific Mail before the 

 rails had been laid a mile west of Omaha. I returned to this 

 coast before he did, and for years had lost sight of him en- 

 tirely until this strange meeting ou the shores of Raccoon 

 Straits, where be told me he had for the past live years eked 

 out a precarious living hunting and fishing. Poor K., slocks 

 and the subsequent dissipation brought ou by his losses had 

 stranded him and left, him as complete a wreck as were the 

 old hulks that lay beached on the shores where be bad moored 

 his floating dwelling. And there be is wearing out, year 

 after year/without companions, without friends, broken- 

 spirited, poverty-stricken and aloue. Forked Deer. 

 8 an Francisco.' 



BASS NOMENCLATURE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Iu Ouizot's 'History of France, " vol. 6, p. 382, occurs the 

 name of Dolomieu, Who was, it appears, a commander of 

 the Knights of Malta, which order was suppressed by Bona- 

 parte in. 3.798. He also took part in the scientific expedition 

 attached to the French army in Egypt in that year. Proba- 

 bly he was the man whose name was given to au American 

 fish by Lacepede, his friend and fellow scientist, and who, 

 perhaps, will be longer remembered from that circumstance 

 than for his Maltese Knighthood. 



Although his claim to have the small-mouthed black bass 

 called for him has been revived and urged by Dr. Henshall 

 with ability, yet after all it seems to rest solely on priority, 

 and that is far from being an unalterable law in the world of 

 science, much of the nomenclature of the most emiuent 

 men— Linnaeus, Cuvicr, Agassiz— having been set aside by 

 later writers. 



0f. Henshall says that Dolomieu had about as much to do 

 with the fish as George Washington. Probably less, since the 

 black bass is found in Virginia rivers, where the youthful 

 George no doubt caught them. The generic name "Microp- 

 terus," or "small fin," came, as we learn, from a mutilated 

 specimen, w hi oh had I the dorsal fin partly bitten off. From 

 that abnormal peculiarity Lacepede gave the generic name, 

 and the specific one from Dolomieu, member of the scientific 

 corps of the army of Egypt, who were held in such_ esteem 

 by that army, that it is said the order used to be given on 

 the eve of a battle, "Asses and savants to the rear!" 



The generic name being founded on a mistake, and the 

 scientific one being inappropriate tor a strictly American 

 hah. let us look through the long list of names with which 

 the bass is credited by Dr. Henshall, and see if a better can 

 be found. 



The generic name "Grystes" has the authority of Agassiz, 

 Baird, Girard, Holbrook* Gunther, Garlick and Herbert. As 

 to a specific name, that given to the large-mouth species by 

 Dr. Garlick, "Megastoma," well describes an organic pecu- 

 liarity. For the other species, why not "Microstoma" or 

 small-mouth. S. C. Clarke. 



SNELLING HOOKS. 



Editw Forest and Stre<an: 



We have had talk about snelling hooks and snooding 

 hooks, and here at the Hub sportsmen talk of "ganging" 

 hooks. I do not fiud authority for this last parlance. Will 

 you tell me if it is "good form"'? 



True, I am selfish; but I am happy when I can stir up 

 Messrs. Cheney and Leopold to talk with their pens. I am 

 grateful for what Mr. Leopold says in your columns of May 

 14. I not only read what they write, but study it, and have 

 been benefitted. I am speaking of tapered hooks. It is easy 

 to snell straight and "marked" hooks. Should be pleased to 

 test the samples Mr. L. sent should they come to hand. 

 The reason he gives for not using linseed oil in his wax does 

 not seem like his usual logic. He well sticks to his text and 

 strives to have his snells stick to their hooks — and for this 

 reason should use the oil. 1 think I first got the idea from 

 Thaddeus N orris's "American Angler's Book." Good author- 

 ity, sure. When preparing it with wet hands he can "work" 

 it, but when snelling hooks he may not put his hands to it 

 at all, I have been of late using a cement, made a year ago, 

 with good results, and have not once soiled my hands with 

 it. 1 keep mine in waxed paper, there is no adhesion. I 

 place a small piece by itself on the paper, and after placing 

 the hook in a hand vise (a pin vise), 1 put it in the gas jet, 

 then upon the said bit of cement, till there is a thin coat or 

 film upon it. I use a silk thread of one of the beautiful 

 colors that have come into the market within a few years 

 and show a very high state of the art of coloring— say dark 

 gold or light gold shade, or scarlet; some shade that is pleas- 

 ing to the eye of man and said to be attractive to the eye of 

 the denizens of the water. I put but a light amount of the 

 cement upon the thread, while holding the cement in my 

 hand shielded by the waxed paper. Then I draw the thread 

 through a clean cloth to even the coating and remove any 

 surplus. 



I repeat what I said some weeks since. 1 soak the gut 

 snell, and flute or corrugate and flatten it a little with a small 

 instrument I made for the purpose. 



using such resin and pitch as Mr. Cheney advises, I do not 

 put in grease or oil, but add a small quantity of Para rubber 

 and white gutta percha. They furnish the elements required. 

 After the wrapping is finished, 1 varnish the thread with a 

 waterproof transparent varnish. A vise such as I have 

 spoken of is necessary for close hard winding and for neat- 

 ness. I think a dozen hooks snelled with the bright colors 

 that may be selected gives a pleasing appearance and com- 

 ports well with the gay flies in use and the aesthetic taste of 

 our age. I have been drawn into this method of doing things 

 by seeking to fill up time during enforced confinement and 

 the pleadings of boy sportsmen around me. I should be 

 pleased to see specimens from Mr. L. and to have him tell us 

 further what he knows about this and other matters which 

 interest the followers of Walton. J. W. T. 



NASH STREAM BOG. 



ONE of the unsettled townships in northern Coos county, 

 N. II., is Octall. It contains five ponds, and two large 

 streams have their source in its mountains, Nash's Stream 

 and Philip's Brook. For several years it was a favorite fish- 

 ing ground of mine, and at, different times I have fished 

 nearly all its waters, and was nearly as familtar with Trio 

 Ponds, Pond Brook, East Branch, the Bog and Phillip's 

 Brook, as with the streets in Lancaster village. Many were 

 the excursions to its various waters, and one day at the foot 

 of the falls on Pond Brook 1 caught over 100 trout from one 

 pool. 



Fifteen years ago 1 could go on any of its waters and get 

 a good string of fish and always got all wc wanted to bring 

 away. They were of good size, and at the Bog, ten miles 

 from the last place on the stream, I have several times taken 

 them weighing a pound each after we got home. I caught 

 a basket full there one afternoon just before a heavy shower, 

 that would average more than half a pound each, all taken 

 with a red hackle with a small piece of worm on the hook, 

 by casting to the further side of the stream and letting the 

 bait sink hearty to the bottom and drawing it quickly across, 

 when it would be taken nearly every time before it would 

 get half way across, I had tried several flies, but couldn't 

 get a rise, and I am like "Nessmuk," if they won't take a fly 

 I am not going without a mess of trout, because I won't put 

 on a worm, 



I took a team from Lancaster one afternoon in August, 

 1883, and together with a friend drove to the lasthonse on 

 the stream, about fourteen miles; and leaving our team we 

 started for Nash Stream Bog, ten miles distant, for two or 

 three days' camping and fishing. 



We had a frying" pan and coffeepot, which together with 

 an axe and grub in our knapsacks, made all we wanted to 

 carry that distance on a warm day. We were both good 

 trampers, and stopping to rest occasionally without tiring us 

 very much, we arrived at the bog at half -past 6 o'clock, 

 where we found a good camp near a fine spring of water 

 about forty rods from the dam at the foot of the bog. We 

 had plenty of time to cut wood for night, and after catching 

 trout enough for supper, we went to camp and dressed our 

 fish, and had Med potatoes, fried trout, bread and coffee, 

 to which we did ample justice, seated on the boughs in front 

 of our bright camp-fire. 



Knives and forks are made in a few minutes with our 

 pocket knives from beechwood, for we don't believe in tak- 

 ing many utensils into the woods on a short trip. We have 

 been there too many times for that. As our camp was a very 

 good one for parties who are going to stay several weeks in 

 the woods, I will describe it. 



Logs of from five to seven inches in diameter were cut 

 eight feet long and built up on three sides, leaving it open 

 in front, notching them at the back end, and building up 

 until the back is two feet high. Then take four stakes and 

 drive them in the ground, one ou each side of the front end 

 of the logs, about six inches back from the end, leaving 

 them six feet high and tie them together on each side near 

 the top with withes. Then build up the sides and cut a 

 pole nine feet long and about two inches in diameter, and 

 lash it firmly to the stakes at the top; cut half a dozen small 

 straight poles ten feet long for rafters, and tie them securely 

 in place, letting them project about a foot in front, and 

 cover with fir or spruce bark. Then gather moss and chink 

 the cracks. Put a three-inch pole across in front on the 

 ground to hold the boughs, which should be about a foot 

 deep, and you have a camp that will be comfortable in the 

 coldest weather with a good fire in front, and in summer 

 with a lighted toadstool on a shelf in one corner, you won't 

 be troubled with flies. 



We had only a small fire, and sometime during the night 

 when the fire had burned low, a rabbit came into camp 

 and Denny made a grab at it, when he jumped fairly 

 on my face and made good his escape. "What are you 

 striking me for?" said I, springing up from a sound sleep 

 and thinking my companion must have been troubled with 

 nightmare, and it was quite awhile before I could take in 

 the situation. After replenishing the fire, Denny sung the 

 "Flying Cloud" and told a few stories, and after a short nap 

 it was morniug. 



The shores of the bog were formerly thickly covered with 

 alders, but they had been cut away, leaving the stream open 

 and a good chance for fly-fishing. The day was still and 

 bright, and after the sun came on the water they stopped 

 rising, and changing to a bait-hook, I joined Denny with 

 bait hook and worm, and at eleven o'clock we came to camp 

 with nearly 100 trout, and scarcely any of them less than 

 eight inches long. We ate dinner" and dressed our fish and 

 put them in a cool place and went out again toward night 



One movement of the 

 hand with this too! does the work perfectly, then 1 singe the | and took about fifty more. Below the dam, at the outlet? of 



ends which forms a little knob. When 1 use gimp snells I 

 take off the metal winding from about three-eighths of an 

 inch from the end that is to come in contact with the hook. 

 With a quarter of an inch of the gimp and the three-eighths 

 of an inch of the silk floss with wire off well cemented, and 

 in contact with the hook, and both parts well lashed to the 

 shank, the work is durable and will stand an immense 

 strain and the wire will not strip. To use the little fluting 

 instrument is much more effectual and agreeable than biting 

 the gut. 



After this I do the winding similar to the manner described 

 by Mr. Cheney, which method I learned by dissecting some 

 snooded hooks that came from across the ocean. When I 

 have completed my work my hands are not soiled nor the 

 hues of the silk wrappings discolored, and I have yet to 

 learn that the "big fish" was lost because the sued slipped 

 from the hook when put on with this cement and in the 

 manner described. 



To preserve the colors of the silk of. course the cement 

 must not have lard or oil in it, but it and the varnish must 

 be transparent and colorless. Now I prepare my cement by 



the bog, the stream is quite rapid its entire length, and as 

 small Btreams come in all along it becomes larger as it nears 

 the outlet, and for the last five or six miles it is from two to 

 four rods wide. 



After breakfast the next morning we began fishing down- 

 stream with pretty fair success, in some pools taking as 

 many as four and five fine trout. It was quite awkward to 

 carry our fish and handle our rods, so I told Denny if he 

 would take all the trout and carry them down to where the 

 east branch came in, and then fish back till we met, I would 

 divide my catch with him. He willingly did so, as 1 

 could catch more than himself. That gave me a better 

 chance to use a fly. and better sport I never wish for on a 

 stream than 1 had that day. I used Ronald's stone fly with 

 professor for a dropper, and in nearly every pool I could 

 take one or more. 1 saved none of less than eight inches in 

 length, and when we met at last 1 had a beautiful basket of 

 trout, all the way from eight to twelve inches. 



After packing*our fish 1 dissolved some Rex Magnus and 

 poured it on them, and we were ready for a start, having all 

 the fish we wanted. 



I wish here to say a word for Rex Magnus. I have used it 

 for the past two seasons and find it of the greatest conveni 

 ence when I wish to keep fish for several days. I kept trout 

 three weeks last season, and at the end of that time they 

 were still fresh and good. It will make part of my regular 

 outfit for long trips this season, for I frequently wish to bring 

 home a big trout in hot weather. 



We stopped at the lower dam on the stream, four miles 

 from the settlement, and tried them again, but it was too 

 late in the season, and nearly all the fish were upstream 

 further toward their spawning beds. Trout in streams are 

 full of spawn by the first of September, and it would be better 

 fishing in this country if the close season came ou at that 

 time. They bite quite readily all through the month but are 

 quite poor eating compared to the June fish. They take bait 

 freely in dark cool days when they won't, ri.se to the fly in 

 the deep sandy pools, and hundreds of fish are taken that 

 ought to be left to stock the streams. The time is probably 

 not far distant when our waters will have to be replenished 

 from the State hatching house to keep up the supply. Our 

 cold mountain streams would always furnish a good supply 

 of trout if they were not overfished or fished out of season. 

 There are now ten anglers to where there was formerly only 

 one, and our waters will have to be stocked artificially to 

 stand the extra draft made on them. 



We arrived at our team and diove to L., arriving there in 

 time to have about ten pounds of trout for supper at the 

 Williams House that night. Denny says he wants to make 

 the same trip this summer, but I am getting to like pond 

 fishing better than wading a stream. S. J. G. 



Lancaster, N. H. 



WAX RECIPES. 



Editor Forest and Stream; 



In his letter on wax and varnish (issue June 4) Mr. Har- 

 rington Keene undoubtedly speaks with practical authority 

 and comes down flat-footed on hog's fat in wax for anglers' 

 uses. Having had plenty of trouble in the same direction a 

 few steps over a well-beaten track may be interesting to the 

 tyro. 



Fif ly years ago there were but two waxes known to the 

 lone fisherman, shoemaker's wax and beeswax (no doubt 

 other and better wax was known to the trade and secretly 

 guarded), but neither of the former filled the bill. Shoe- 

 maker's wax had the preference and was carried in a small 

 double of thin leather in the tackle book, ready for instant 

 use. Next was tried a piece of black pitch with a little fresh 

 butter or fresh lard, rubbed into it before the fire, but was 

 no improvement on the shoemaker's wax, as both were like 

 the Dutchman and his wife who were brought before his 

 Honor, the Court, "Hans, how old are you?" "I bees dirty." 

 To the wife, "How old are you?" "I bees dirty too." His 

 Honor, "You are a filthy couple." 



As the years rolled ou various mixtures had been tried, in 

 which were either lard, butter, sweet oil, or linseed oil, with 

 various results. In the meantime some good fish with a 

 mouth full of hooks were staying behind. Some twelve 

 years ago I was put on the right track, and have waxed to it 

 ever since, except for a short time some six or seven years 

 ago, when a correspondent of Forest and Stream gave a 

 recipe for wax, to wit: two ounces of rosin, half an ounce of 

 gutta percha, tablespoonful of linseed oil, dissolved together. 

 I tried it, used it for a short time only, and returned to what 

 I know to be the best I have ever used. Others may have and 

 use a better wax that we know nothing about, but if there is 

 any grease of any kind other than that contained in beeswax 

 I don't want it. 



Take two ounces best rosin, two ounces beeswax (yellow), 

 powder the rosin, shave or break the beeswax into small 

 pieces, put both into a tin cup and dissolve over a slow fire, 

 constantly stirring with a small wooden paddle. When all 

 dissolved pour into a basin of cold water; when cool enough 

 to handle have a genuine candy pull, in the good old way, 

 then roll into a ball or cut into parts and divide with your 

 angling neighbors. The thread runs through it easily, with- 

 out jar or friction, and what adheres to the thread is there 

 to stay, and a hook properly whipped close and firm, termin- 

 ating "in an endless knot, will defy the world of fish to part 

 hook from leader. In fly-tying it will not soil the feathers 

 nor will the fingers stick to everything they touch, nor need 

 you soak or bite your gut, or remove the enamel from the 

 taper end of the hook before tying. The enamel is piaced 

 there to protect the hook from rust which will burn through 

 the gut. Thomas Chalmers." 



Hoi.yoke, Mass. 



PORPOISE STEAK. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



We live in an utilitarian age. An age in which a man 

 anoints his rheumatic joints with the waste products of 

 petroleum, fills his confectionery with the parings of hoofs 

 and horns, and writes his billets doux on the pressed pulp of 

 the rags that blow in the streets. Yet the historian of these 

 times will write us down as an unenterprising and wasteful 

 generation. With what abuse we should have loaded the 

 Indian had he trusted for his subsistence to the animals he 

 could tame and rear, and let the unnumbered herds of 

 buffaloes that darkened the plains in the old days go by his 

 lodge unmolested. We should have looked upon his destruc- 

 tion by our pious ancestors as not the least pious of their 

 deeds. Yet we who esteem ourselves so much above the 

 aborigines allow a vast race of food supplying creatures to 

 disport themselves before our very eyes and make no effort 

 to utilize them. 1 mean the cetaceans. But you will say 

 that porpoises are not fit to eat, that their flesh is tough, 

 coarse and ill-flavored. I have said so, too, and that recently 

 before the American Fisheries Society. But I have been con- 

 verted, and my conversion was in this wise. 



On returning from their last cruise on the Hatteras ground, 

 the naturalists of the Fish Commission's steamer Albatross 

 captured and brought in on ice two specimens of the common 

 dolphin {DelpMnus elelphis), one quite young. When these 

 had been properly examined from a scientific point of view, 

 the proposition was made that the younger one be converted 

 into steaks. A number of pieces were cut from the middle 

 of the back, and in a few moments the most promising of 

 them were broiling in fine style before the fire. When they 

 came upon the table they had the appearance of small ten- 

 derloin steaks, such as one may have served up iu any well- 

 regulated restaurant, and the best bull ever bred could have 

 no spot in him more tender than were these same small steaks. 

 But the flavor ! Some one has said that the odor of a rose is 

 not to be described. So with the flavor of this porpoise. If 

 I say I was reminded of liver, you will cry out that it was 

 coarse; if 1 say there seemed to be something in it akin to 

 juicy duck, you will suspect rankness; while if I affirm that 



